Gas Savings

Is it possible to drive more miles, burn less gas and get more bang for your fuel buck all at once? Yes! If you could squeeze 10 to 20 percent more savings from every gas dollar, wouldn’t you rather put it back in your pocket than back in your gas tank? Who wouldn’t? The real question is: Do you know how?
Smart fuel management starts with preventative maintenance (which you’re doing anyway, right?). Here are a few reminders and recommendations to help your car and gas dollars go farther…

GET A GOOD GRADE

If your engine is losing power, you’re losing money on fuel. Using the right motor oil will help. Get the lightest grade for your climate. Heavy oil with higher viscosity makes car engines work harder and that’ll cost you. Look on the oil label for numbers like 10W–30, 5W–30 or 20W–50. In winter, go with the lower numbers on the left. During summer, stick with the higher numbers on the right. Remember, oils thin in heat and thicken in cold. So stay on top of things or your wallet will feel the heat and you’ll be left out in the cold with higher gas bills.

HANDLE THE PRESSURE

When air escapes from your tires, money escapes from your wallet. According to Goodyear, keeping your tires properly inflated could improve your gas mileage by more than $1.50 every time you fill your tank. When tires are under–inflated, rolling resistance increases and so does fuel consumption. What else is important? Did you know larger tires can greatly reduce fuel efficiency? You should also look out for tread wear, vibrations and squealing…and have your tires rotated, aligned and balanced on schedule. But most importantly, inflate! It will save you money and that’s something you’ll never tire of.

KEEP IT COOL AND IN TUNE

Studies show that poorly tuned engines can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent depending on the car’s condition. Old or faulty spark plugs alone can reduce fuel economy by as much as 30%. Keep an eye on your cooling system to ensure your engine is running at optimum temperature. Improperly mixed coolant can make your engine run hot and hamper fuel economy. Replace those dirty or clogged air and fuel filters too. You’ll pay in the long run if you don’t—under your hood and at the pump.

FUEL SMART OR JUST PLAIN FUELISH?

Lighten Your Load: An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent. Curb Your Appetite for Acceleration: More than 80% of fuel is burned when you accelerate. Accelerating over–aggressively can be an expensive habit. Here’s the Capper… Believe it or not, approximately 147 million gallons of gas evaporates from cars without gas caps every year! Do you know where your gas cap is?
Thanks for reading…and more power at the pump to ya!

Information courtesy of the Castrol Crew.